Americans are spending increasingly more of their health care dollars on non-traditional therapies; however, not all insurance carriers support such alternatives.
Many insurance providers limit coverage to acupuncture and chiropractic treatments; others refuse coverage altogether.
What is alternative medicine?
Alternative medicine encompasses an array of therapies and treatments – yoga, herbal remedies, massage therapy and acupuncture among them – with the goal of harmonizing mind, body and spirit for improved wellness. According to estimates in the United States, nearly 40% of adults use complementary or alternative therapies1.
Alternative medicine practitioners offer many additional forms of therapies to complement traditional medical treatment for pain relief and stress management, including chronic pain management, anxiety relief, digestive health issues and sleep issues.
Alternative therapy practices do not typically involve medications or chemicals; rather, they are seen as part of an individual’s overall health care and wellness plan. Alternative therapies can supplement traditional medical therapies by helping to alleviate stress and enhance mood, or be used to treat conditions like anxiety and depression.
As more consumers turn to alternative medicine, health insurance companies have started providing more coverage for such services. Some major health plans now include acupuncture and chiropractic care as core benefits – though coverage often varies widely, as many insurers still require that patients demonstrate why the service is necessary before providing any coverage for it.
Alternative treatments may seem safer and more natural than traditional medicine, making them attractive options for those concerned with side effects from prescription medicines. It’s important to remember, though, that there’s limited scientific proof supporting their efficacy as a treatment strategy.
Many individuals who use alternative medicine are looking for ways to relieve their stress and improve their mental health, and meditation and yoga may provide just the solution they need to do just that. Both activities can help lower blood pressure, relieve tension and improve sleep patterns as well as helping alleviate headaches or back and neck pain.
At least some alternative therapies are covered by insurance plans; however, it’s important to remember that they usually fall outside of a comprehensive health plan. Instead, most insurance providers include alternative therapies in an out-patient coverage section of their policy; therefore patients must meet specific criteria in order to qualify for alternative therapy coverage (usually including medical necessity such as receiving a valid prescription from their primary care doctor).
What is covered by health insurance for alternative therapies?
Health insurers have been slow to accept alternative therapies into mainstream medical practice; as a result, coverage varies significantly by provider and plan, sometimes providing no support whatsoever for them. Still, more providers have begun taking note; for instance, BCBSSC, one major national insurer has been actively promoting acupuncture and massage therapy as part of its Natural Blue program for all members.
Health insurance policies continue to change and adapt quickly, often altering how holistic healthcare professionals bill and reimburse for services. With so much changing so quickly it’s essential that holistic healthcare practitioners keep up with changes to ensure their services are covered by health plans and can receive reimbursement.
CAM practitioners must understand that insurance billing uses CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) and ICD-10 codes to identify procedures or treatments provided, while also be mindful that some insurers limit coverage of treatments considered experimental or unnecessary; those without any medical basis for coverage.
An insurance policy that encompasses traditional and alternative therapies, is essential for holistic healthcare. Therefore, working with a dependable international health insurer such as Pacific Prime is of vital importance if you want to be proactive about managing your wellbeing. At Pacific Prime we partner with some of the industry’s best providers and offer global plans that cover alternative medicine like acupuncture and massage therapy as part of holistic wellness plans. To explore our plans further please use our online comparison tool or reach out directly to one of our specialists for more details on them and receive a free quote!
How can I find out if my health insurance covers alternative therapies?
While many physicians may scoff at the concepts and practices of alternative medicine, there is growing evidence to support some treatments as at least worth consideration. More people are turning to these types of therapies in order to ease stress, pain or illness; it’s important to find out if your health insurance covers this type of therapy.
If you want to know whether or not your health insurance plan covers alternative therapy treatments, the best way to determine this is by reaching out directly to your insurer. They should be able to give a list of providers who accept your policy; alternatively you could check the therapist’s website as well.
There has been progress made toward getting health insurance companies to cover alternative medicines, but progress remains slow and much work needs to be done. Most major health plans only cover a limited amount of alternative medicine services like chiropractic and acupuncture.
Health insurance policies cover various alternative therapies, from alternative medicine to physiotherapy and massage services. It’s important to remember, though, that their coverage only extends to treatments considered medically necessary by your physician – before engaging in any sort of alternative therapy, it is wise to first check with them first.
As more and more people seek natural remedies for healing, health insurers are offering more coverage for alternative medicine therapies like acupuncture, massage therapy and herbal remedies as part of alternative healthcare plans. Because these treatments can be costly it’s important to know whether they will be covered before making your decision to seek such services.
CCW Global Insurance provides holistic & alternative therapy businesses with business property insurance plans designed specifically to protect them against damage or theft of equipment and inventory, helping safeguard them from financial loss and ensure smooth operations. Their plans cover alternative medicine as well as natural treatments.
How can I get my health insurance to cover alternative therapies?
As more physicians and health care providers embrace alternative medicine, the insurance industry has gradually begun to embrace it as well. Still, the landscape continues to change annually with new coding changes, procedure updates and policy shifts impacting how holistic health practices handle claims processing.
At one time, many insurance companies would either not cover alternative therapies at all or would only reimburse them if referred by a physician. Today however, more insurance plans are offering coverage for acupuncture and other forms of alternative medicine, though coverage for providers remains limited. It is possible to get your health insurance provider to cover them if you follow these tips.
One of the best steps you can take is working closely with your regular physician to incorporate alternative therapies into your treatment plan. Many doctors are often open and happy to incorporate such services. Furthermore, finding a practitioner in-network with your insurance company could save money when paying your bills.
One effective strategy for getting alternative therapies covered under your health insurance is negotiating for cash pay rates with providers of such treatments. Many will offer discounted prices if patients pay out-of-pocket, providing another great way to save on costs.
Rather than paying out-of-pocket for alternative therapy treatments, if you do not have enough money available you could always find a provider who accepts payment through your health savings account (HSA). An HSA is an excellent way of saving money for things such as acupuncture and chiropractic care as it is tax-deductible.
Finally, to cover alternative therapies under your health insurance, supplemental health insurance policies offer additional coverage for things such as acupuncture, massage therapy and dietary supplements. There are multiple available supplemental policies, so do your research carefully in order to select one suitable to your needs.
